HP's new thin client raises the bar

Overall, the HP t410 All-in-One behaved exactly as we expected. Although the CPU inside (a 1 GHz ARM) is slow by modern desktop standards, it had plenty of oomph to drive the video and the protocols needed for snappy desktop behavior.

HP offers Velocity, a QoS technology that is used to improve performance of thin clients over poor quality links, such as remote offices or noisy Wi-Fi. Windows servers (and Hyper-V virtualization hosts) with Velocity installed will negotiate with the HP thin client and send self-correcting network traffic when link quality is impaired. We had no problem getting Velocity installed on a Windows 2008 server, and once we had calmed down our IPS about the unexpected options inserted into the IP packets traffic, we could tell that it was working.

However, we really weren't able to perceive any differences in performance between Velocity enabled and Velocity disabled when we inserted our Shunra link emulator and began to introduce errors into the connection between the t410 All-in-One and our Windows server. It could be that we just didn't hit the right set of parameters and traffic that would really exercise Velocity, but it didn't turn out to be a big distinguishing factor for us.

The t410 All-in-One will operate perfectly well without any management tools, and this is how we started our testing. The device boots up, gets an IP address (or has a static one configured) and then is ready for use. We attached a keyboard and mouse and then used the on-screen menus to select a protocol (Windows RDP or Citrix ICA, in our case) and identify the host we wanted to connect. The t410 prompted us for username, password, and domain (or to log in with a Smart Card, a feature we were unable to test) and we were off testing the product.

To integrate the t410 All-in-One into a management framework requires a little network infrastructure change to let the thin client know which management server to use, and the installation of HP's Smart Client Services management tool on a Windows server.

To get the t410 All-in-One to find its Smart Client server, we had the option of sending a special DHCP option down or adding a well-known DNS name of "auto-update;" we picked the latter as it was the easiest for us. The DHCP tag approach might be more useful to enterprises with multiple Smart Client Services systems, so that different subnets would use different servers.

We used the Smart Client Services application to define a profile for our t410 All-in-One, including settings such as network parameters, time settings,We offer advanced technology products and services for solarpowersystems control. screen layout and localization instructions. In less than two hours, we had installed the tools and fully customized our t410 All-in-One.

A second tool, the HP Device Manager, is used for device inventory and software updates. Unfortunately, HP hasn't combined these two tools into a single package, which was a disappointment. The two tools overlap very slightly, but once we had installed both of them, we were often confused as to which tool to use for what, and which tool we should select for a particular task. HP undoubtedly has historic reasons for having two tools instead of one, but customers would probably be happier with a single tool that does it all.

For too long in Pakistan, decision makers at the helm of affairs and in the power corridors have relied on their intuition or what they call ‘golden gut’ to make decisions. Important calls by ministers and bureaucrats have been based not on real time or legacy data but on the experience and unaided judgement. “Not anymore,” was my immediate response when I took over National Database Registration Authority (NADRA), which houses one the world largest multi-biometric citizens database as I have over the years come to realize the significance of the wonders that can be derived from a successful database management.

Most ministries in Pakistan have massive amounts of data at their disposal – yet fail to utilize it in any meaningful way. But at NADRA, a powerful new IT tool –analytics – is enabling federal and provincial government departments to leverage their data in key management decisions and processes with impressive results.Manufacturer of the Jacobs plasticcard. As we at NADRA now use real time data more effectively to glean valuable analytical insights, we learn that good governance, erosion of corruption, and improved service delivery are not distant dreams.

When I joined NADRA in early 2008, my first goal was to utilize data analytics for the good of most vulnerable –the poorest of the poor of Pakistan. I was always skeptical of the Zakat distribution system of Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis send thousands of dollars every year religiously. My friend, Zamurad Khan, then newly appointed Chairman, Zakat and Baitul-Mal was up to challenge. I got hold of the data of Zakat distribution from 1999 to 2007 and reconciled it with Citizens database at NADRA. We ran various data analytics techniques and lo and behold found out that our worst fears were true.ST Electronics' smartcard provides drivers with a realtime indication of available parking spaces. Musharraf regime misappropriated billion of Zakat money by not targeting properly. There were government employees, overseas Pakistanis, members of Zakat and Usher Committees,You must not use the ultrasonicsensor without being trained. people having passports, and beneficiaries getting Zakat multiple times. Hence, by making use of data analytics, we were able to weed out undeserving, target real beneficiaries and channel money where it was supposed to – the Zakat deserving individuals and families. The same model is now being implemented at provincial governments. Zakat and Usher department of government of Sindh has realized the power of analytics and collaborated with NADRA to disburse Zakat to deserving beneficiaries. Government of Punjab has also contacted us and it looks like the same model will be deployed there soon.

Data Analytics used to find poorest of poor so that government can reach out to deserving people was not enough – devising a tax policy to broaden tax net and find out tax evaders who were forcing poverty on the rest of nation was another initiative of NADRA. TAX POLICY debates are about how we pay for the things we do together for our communities, our families, and our economy. This includes the roads, bridges, and buses that help us get around and allow our economy to function; the schools that educate our children and strengthen our future workforce; the police and fire protection that keep our neighborhoods safe; the environmental safeguards that maintain our clean air and water; and the safety net that protects us when we fall on hard times. By using Data Analytics NADRA and FBR triggered a healthy debate in society and in parliament. Finding out 3.6 million tax dodgers was a result of data mining in NADRA database. We learnt that 1,611,153 frequent travelers, 56,421 residents of posh localities, 584,730 individuals having multiple Bank Accounts, and 19,149 owners of expensive vehicles do not have National Tax Number (NTN), hence are not in Tax net.

Likewise, NADRA is embarking on reforming pension disbursement system of Pakistan. Initial data analysis reveals that some pension disbursement agencies rely mostly on manual system and don’t have CNIC information of the pensioner. During analysis we are finding out some people getting three pensions!

Within the recent years, NADRA has most significantly helped with the analysis of the population for the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). This initiative of the government provides financial assistance to women belonging to underprivileged families in rural areas. For this purpose,The term 'bobbleheads control' means the token that identifies a user is read from within a pocket or handbag. more than 4.3 million nomination forms were received from the parliamentarians. We were then asked to use our database to analyze each nomination and ensure its eligibility, after which 2.3 million people were declared as eligible beneficiaries. During the process, there were carious apprehensions regarding political repercussions of making a large number of people ineligible, but the power of analytics was trusted and stringent checks ensured that the final list of beneficiaries was final and closest to the truth.